School Choice Guide- The Right Course of Action: Studying Up on Educational Systems (3)

There are six education systems that we looked at in this year’s School Choice Guide. The third system is the English National Curriculum. Find out the reasons why this was the preferred choice for the Huang family. Read about the first system, Advanced Placement Courses and SAT/PSAT here and the second, the Chinese National Curriculum here.

The English National Curriculum was developed by the British government for standard use in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It is used in over 30,000 schools in the UK and overseas. This education system is characterized by a broad, well-rounded education that narrows in focus after Year 11.

How is it applied? Primary school students are assessed at the end of Key Stages 1 to 3 on a scale of 1 to 8 according to English National Curriculum standards. These evaluations are based on tests and teacher assessments, and are commonly known as “SATs” or Standard Assessment Tasks (not to be confused with the American SAT).

In Key Stage 4, students can sit up to ten subjects at a series of national exams known as the GCSEs (General Certificate of Secondary Education) with some of the exams and coursework completed in Year 10 and the early stages of Year 11.In Key Stage 5, students take the GCE Advanced Level exams, commonly known as A-levels. A-levels are a graduated system composed of AS levels (Year 12) and A2 levels (Year 13). Students cannot move on to A2 levels if they fail their AS exams. The norm is to do four or five A-levels in Year 12, then carry forward three to A2 level in Year 13.

Note that some top universities put out lists of A-levels they consider to be “soft” subjects, effectively creating a blacklist. “Soft” subjects include Media Studies, Art and Design, Photography, and Business Studies. By contrast, students are generally advised to take at least two “traditional” A-levels like Maths, English, Geography, History, and Physics.

Why should parents consider it? A-levels give students the freedom to choose their areas of study and focus on their strengths. For example, a student who is working towards a scholarship in biology might not want to devote much time to arts. This way, they can also reduce the risk of dragging down their grade average.

How well does this education system prepare students for the real world? The British education system is well-recognized and accepted all over the world. A-levels are the standard qualification for universities in the UK and help students focus on preferred subjects before applying to university. In addition, A-levels are generally accepted in the US and Europe, as well as former Commonwealth countries like Canada and Australia.

The Huang Family (China) The Huang family is made up of dad Youyi, mom Song Wei, and their daughter Helen (age 17). Youyi is an architect and Song Wei is an engineer. Helen attends Harrow International School of Beijing and recently received a place at Sydney Sussex College, Cambridge University.

Why did you choose the English National Curriculum? Youyi: China is on the path to becoming a developed nation and our children need to learn how to communicate with westerners. In the short term, we wanted Helen to study in the UK for her Bachelor’s degree. Under the English National Curriculum, students’ strong points are valued so they are inspired to learn independently. The UK curriculum has a broader context than the domestic curriculum, but the latter tends to be more difficult. Also, the English curriculum prioritizes autonomous learning rather than spoon feeding information. Students can focus on classes that they like or do well in.

What are the benefits of this curriculum? The school advocates an autonomous learning style, good communication skills, and leadership ability. These are the most important things that Helen has learned, and they will benefit her all her life. She can research the information she needs, knows when to ask for help, and even attends lectures on her favorite subjects outside of school.

What are the major drawbacks of the English National Curriculum? We initially worried most about Helen’s English. Like many Chinese children, she excels in STEM subjects like math, chemistry and physics. But because she didn’t enter Harrow until high school, we were not sure if she would master subjects with high language requirements like English and geography. However, she adjusted very quickly in part because the school pays close attention to students transferring from local high schools. In the first semester, the EAL teachers helped her adapt to learning on her own. She hasn’t lagged behind; in fact, we are more than happy with her 90+ grade in the AS Geography exam.